Click here to see Wiarton Willie's 2010 prediction ~ Early spring or 6 more weeks of winter~

  

54th Annual Wiarton Willie Festival ~ February 1st - 7th, 2010

                                        

                                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to the home of the world's most famous weather prognosticating groundhog Wiarton Willie. Wiarton Willie is an albino groundhog, which means he is pure white, who, every February 2nd, climbs out of his hole, and predicts the weather. If Wiarton Willie sees his shadow, we will have six more weeks of winter. However, if he doesn't see his shadow, we will have an early spring. 

Now, how did Wiarton come to have such an event; a groundhog forecasting the weather? Well, the tradition dates back over 2000 years ago, to ancient Celtic tribes. The ancient Celts used animals, every February 2nd, and knowing that they were in tune with nature, to predict the weather, just as we do here. But how did Wiarton come about this practice?

Well, 54 years ago, in January of 1956, a local by the name of Mac Mackenzie was trying to stir up a little fun in Wiarton, because back then, it wasn't a very active place in wintertime. So, Mac decided to have a party. He sent out invitations to his friends, calling for a 'Groundhog Day' celebration, and set the date for February 2nd. Somehow, one of these invitations fell into the hands of a Toronto Star reporter.

This reporter traveled to Wiarton, hoping to write a story on the bog festival. However, when he got here, nothing was going on; it was just Mac and a few of his friends having a drink at the local pub. The reporter told Mac that he just couldn't go back home without a story so Mac, thinking quickly, grabbed one of his friend's wife's hats (which was white and furry), dug a hole in the snow, popped the hat into the hole, and made a weather prediction. The reporter took the photo, and the next day the story ran in the Toronto Star as 'Groundhog Day'. The next year, about 50 people showed up for the festival, and the legend was born.

Nowadays, the festival attracts close to 10,000 people a year, with such activities and events as parades, dances, ice hockey tournaments, pancake breakfasts and the fabled Wiarton Willie Weather prediction.